Having erection problems? What is erectile dysfunction (ED)? Learn about erectile dysfunction causes and treatments such as drugs (pills), pumps, and more.
These drugs are generally safe and effective for most men. They may not be appropriate for men with certain health conditions, such as severe heart disease, heart failure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, or a history of stroke or heart attack. Men who take nitrate drugs cannot use PDE5 inhibitors. PDE5 inhibitors can also interact with other medications. Talk to your doctor about whether PDE5 inhibitor drugs are a safe choice for you.
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Don’t hold your breathDon’t push down — instead, squeeze your pelvic muscles together tightly as if you are trying to lift something up with those musclesTry to keep your stomach muscles relaxed throughoutRelax your pelvic floor muscles between each squeeze
What Are the Best Three Exercises for Erectile Dysfunction? Learn whether exercises can help and what other treatments can help to relieve your symptoms.
Other medical therapies under evaluation include ROCK inhibitors and soluble guanyl cyclase activators. Melanocortin receptor agonists are a new set of medications being developed in the field of erectile dysfunction. Their action is on the nervous system rather than the vascular system. PT-141 is a nasal preparation that appears to be effective alone or in combination with PDE5 inhibitors. The main side effects include flushing and nausea. These drugs are currently not approved for commercial use.
“It’s also the blood vessels themselves that can become inflamed,” Berglund said, “which could cause an obstructive phenomenon and negatively impact the ability to get erections.”
A healthy lifestyle can prevent almost all cases of type 2 diabetes. A large research study called the Diabetes Prevention Program, found that people who made intensive lifestyle changes including diet and exercise reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58%. Those over 60 years old seemed to experience extra benefit; they reduced their risk by 71%. In comparison, people who were given the drug metformin for diabetes prevention only reduced their risk by 31%.
Why no pills? Testosterone is available as a pill but some experts believe long-term oral delivery of testosterone can have negative effects on the liver. These other delivery methods bypass the liver (as they don't involve a pill being absorbed through the stomach/intestine) and go directly into the blood stream. QUESTION Testosterone is a chemical found only in men. See Answer
The chances of erectile dysfunction go up as people grow old. However, age is not the only cause of the weak erection. Certain conditions and diseases can also cause erectile dysfunction. These include Type 2 diabetes Heart disease Obesity Benign enlargement of the prostate Hyperlipidemia (high lipid or cholesterol level) Atherosclerosis (clogged blood vessels that results in their hardening) Hypertension (high blood pressure) Chronic kidney disease Liver disease Parkinson’s disease Sleep disorders Low testosterone level Injury to the penis, prostate, or spinal cord Multiple sclerosis Peyronie’s disease (formation of scar tissue under the skin of the penis) Treatments for prostate cancer Radiation therapy Prostate surgery Surgery for bladder cancer
If there seems to be a psychological cause contributing to your erectile dysfunction, the doctor may ask the patient questions to help determine stressor, events, and relationship issues that may be causing your erectile troubles. It may be helpful to have your sexual partner involved in this assessment. Featured Centers Good and Bad Foods for PsoriasisVideo: Getting Personal on Life With MS Health Solutions From Our Sponsors Shot-Free MS Treatment Your Child and COVID-19
Categories: Family Health, Men, Prevention and Wellness, Seniors, Sex and Birth Control, Sex and Sexuality
Experts often treat psychologically based impotence using techniques that decrease anxiety associated with intercourse. The patient's partner can help apply the techniques, which include gradual development of intimacy and stimulation. Such techniques also can help relieve anxiety during treatment of physical impotence. If these simple behavioral methods at home are ineffective, a doctor may refer an individual to a sex counselor. Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story
There have been reports of fatal heart attacks in a small percentage of men taking PDE5 inhibitors. These medications can cause sudden and dangerous drops in blood pressure when the drug is taken with nitrate drugs, which are used for angina. Common nitrate drugs include nitroglycerine (Nitrostat), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilartrate-SR), and sodium nitroprusside (Nitropress). Men who use nitrates, including related substances such as amyl nitrate ("poppers"), should never take sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil, or avanafil.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. It is a chronic condition in which blood glucose (sugar) can no longer be regulated. There are two reasons for this. First, the cells of the body become resistant to insulin (insulin resistant). Insulin works like a key to let glucose (blood sugar) move out of the blood and into the cells where it is used as fuel for energy. When the cells become insulin resistant, moving sugar into the cells requires more and more insulin, and too much sugar stays in the blood. Over time, if the cells require more and more insulin, the pancreas can't make enough insulin to keep up and begins to fail.
A recent study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that men with severe periodontal disease were three times more likely to have consistent difficulties having an erection. While this may be a case of correlation rather than causation, poor dental health has long been associated with vascular disease, which is known to contribute to ED.
To get an erection, your brain, nerves, hormones, and blood vessels all need to work together. If something gets in the way of these normal functions, it can lead to erection problems.
But moderation is key: it's not necessary (or recommended!) to suddenly launch into a workout program that's designed for an Olympic athlete.